Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-10-06
always been treated kindly and with
respect by the other pupils.
Very truly yours,
ID, III, DANIEIA.
superintendent OF Schools.


ID. II. DANIELS,
Superintendent OF Schools.
| Brookiinc, September %, 1887.
| That letter tells the story. In eight
years timo the Superintendent of
Schools in Brookline has never known
q time when there were more than two
colored pupils in mot one school butt
"our schools" Mr.. SEAvER tcstifies
that even in Boston the "colored"
children are numerous enough to at
tract attention in only two of the many
school districts OF that city. Now,
this was exactly the point we made in
the article which the Literary World
undertook to refute-namely, that it
was because there were so few negro
| children in the Boston schools that
their presence attracted no atten-
ton and was tolerated. The very
fact that the Literary JVcyH
and ITS correspondents speak of
"colored " children, and not of
"negro children, is to us proof posi-
tive that race prejudice would be ex-
cited in Boston or anywhere else in
Massachusetts were there in the public
schools negro children enough to cat
tract attention" The Chinese are tole-
rated in Richmond just as the negroes
are in Boston and for the same rea-
son-they are not numerous enough to
"attract attention"
AS the article in the Dispatch which
called forth these letters has sat
trscted 80 much "attention in Mas
sachusotts, and did not escape COM
mendstion even in Virginia, we repro
duce it from the Daily Dispatch of |
September dh--as follows:
The CAT AND THE MOUsB.-A gentle |
man writes us that having for years
travelled from Bangor, Ne, to Denver,
Col, and having lived in Boston for |
twelve months, he is confident that the |
Chicago NeCs is mistaken when it says |
that IN the North negroes are not well
coined into the public schools. He de-
clares that they are welcomed into those |
schools and that "WhcncUcr tie |
courts hare been Gated on to interfere |
Moy sustain the right Of tie colOred
childrcH." Our correspondent lets the
cat out Of the bag when he uses the
words We have italicized. Why should
the courts cUcr be called on to interfere
with the management OF the Boston pub
lie schools, or any other northern pub
lie schools They would not be il
negro children were welcomed into
them. Our correspondent will admit,
if he will only ponder the matter
awhile, that our Chicago contemporary
was exceedingly guarded in its Ian
guage. 1t used the word " welcomed"
because it well knew that under the
negro children are received into the
same public schools with white chill
dren. But they are received not as
white children are receivod-with a
welcome but with a suppressed |
feeling Of regret that the law should re-
quire them to perform task 50 up
pleasant. Our correspondent tells
us that the Boston Literary WOrid |
declares that "the best civil
cation of the age has agreed
to do away with race prejudice" That
is easily said. But the declaration is
not true. So long as there shall con-
tinue to be in Massachusetts, as there
were in 1880, about one hundred whites
to every negro, there can no occasion
arise for indulgence in race prejudices
Uncle Toby said to the fly, "The world {
is wide enough for thee and me >" and
the Massachusetts, negro meets with the
same sort of treatment. He is tolerated '
because he is alone. eco" said Uncle
Toby. "Keep out of my way" says {
the NJ ssachusetts man to the negro.
% Stay in Virginia. Don't come to
"The best civilization
IF the age in Boston may have agreed '
10 edo away with race prejudice" s
but the agreement would soon I
cease to be respected if the p0pula-
ion Of Boston should by any chance !
.ver become anything like equally di. l
7ided between the two races. The fair t
maiden in the fable who had been a
at before her transformation imme-
lately resumed her original form when !
. mouse appeared in her presence. She G
found herself forthwith cat again, '
laws and all. SO these Bostonians, |
Who have been transformed into angels i
IF light, destitute of the prejudices t
which God has implanted in the bosoms g
If all other persons on the globe, !
would soon be restored by the presence 5
If q large number of negroes amongst 6
hem to their normal condition, "claws /
md all. /